The Imps are up to second in the League 2 table after a 3-1 victory over an Accrington Stanley side who ended the game with nine men following two second half dismissals.

City opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Martin Gritton - in the starting line-up for the first time this season - slotted the ball under the body of Ian Dunbavin after he latched on to a great flick from Jamie Forrester.

The Imps always looked dangerous on the attack and Forrester turned provider again five minutes from the break when his centre was prodded home at the second attempt by Mark Stallard.

The same pairing combined again midway through the second half to make it 3-0 - Stallard sliding home following Forrester's through ball - and Stanley's evening went from bad to worse shortly afterwards when centre-back Michael Welch was sent off for two bookable offences.

Accrington gave themselves a glimmer of hope eight minutes from time when Gary Roberts fizzed a rasping drive past Alan Marriott but when Peter Cavanagh was dismissed for a second yellow after dreadful challenge on Stallard it ended their hopes of a late comeback.

Mark Stallard nets his first and City's second

Match report by John Vickers at Sincil Bank Stadium:

With Ryan Amoo suspended and Jeff Hughes away on international duty with the Northern Ireland U21 squad, Head Coach John Schofield was forced to make a couple of changes to his starting line-up for this Coca-Cola League 2 game against last season's Conference champions Accrington Stanley.

In the team in place of Amoo came new loan signing Nicky Eaden whilst taken Hughes' place was striker Martin Gritton - Jamie Forrester moving across to the left of a front three alonside Gritton and Mark Stallard.

Visitors Accrington got the game underway with City attacking the IMPS Stand end of the ground. A decent sized crowd were present, with the majority hoping to see the Imps move up to second in the table with a three-point haul.

It was a quiet opening to proceedings with both sides taking their time to settle into proceedings but things certainly woke up in the sixth minute when a slick move from City carved open the Stanley defence.

The Imps gained possession in the middle third before the ball was played forward to Jamie Forrester. Forrester, fresh from his four-goal haul at Mansfield Town last weekend, flicked the ball beautifully into the path of Martin Gritton and the Scot did the rest.

The striker, in the starting line-up for the first time this season, advanced forward, showed good composure and neatly slotted the ball under the body of Ian Dunbavin. It was just the start City needed.

It was almost 2-0 less than a minute later when City attacked down the left through Stallard. The experienced striker took a couple of touches before spotting the run of new loan signing Nicky Eaden who saw his first time effort crashed into the side netting.

The Imps were well on top and a foul on Gritton in the 11th minute gave them a chance from a free-kick but Dunbavin was well positioned and easily held Scott Kerr's dipping drive.

A spectacular overhead kick from Forrester then warmed Dunbavin's hands after Gritton had flicked a Paul Mayo throw-in into the path of the Imps' in-form striker and in the 18th minute, Stanley's Peter Cavanagh picked up a yellow card after upending Lee Frecklington on the edge of the box after a pacy City attack caused the visiting defence trouble. Forrester's effort from the set-piece though went straight at the wall.

The first corner of the evening arrived in the 22nd minute - and it went City's way - but Frecklington's driven centre flew over everyone and out for a throw-in on the opposite side of the field.

Accrington then won a corner of their own when Lee Beevers misdirected a header clear, with the ball slicing off his head before bouncing a foot wide of his own post but although City dealt with the flag-kick, it wasn't long before the visitors were on the attack again with Gary Roberts firing over after an Andy Todd cross caught the Imps' back-line at sixes and sevens.

City were being forced to battle for possession as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark with Stanley quick to close the Imps' players down when they took possession of the ball. The frustration at not being able to spread the ball around was starting to rub off on the crowd as well and a hush went round the ground when Ian Craney volleyed inches wide after he latched on to a Paul Mullin knock down.

A questionable decision by the assistant referee which saw him rule that Paul Mayo had handled the ball, despite being dragged to the ground have the visitors a chance from a good position. Gary Roberts wasted the opportunity though, blazing his right-footed effort well over.

Ficve minutes before the break, a great break forward from Scott Kerr saw him cut the Stanley midfield apart and his tenacious burst led to City doubling their advantage.

Kerr's break forward saw him open up the Accrington middle third with the ball ultimately finding its way to Lee Frecklington who in turn spotted Jamie Forrester in space on the right.

Running forward in support was Mark Stallard and, after Forrester had picked out his team mate with a slide rule pass across the field, Stallard followed up after his initial effort was blocked by Dunbavin to prod the ball into an empty net for his fourth of the season.

So, a goal six minutes into the game and one five minutes before the break had put the Imps into a healthy position going into the break.

HT: IMPS 2 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0

Accrington boss John Coleman made a change at the break with Andrew Mangan coming on for Jay Harris. City remained unchanged.

The half was barely 30 seconds old when the Imps had what looked to have a good shout for a penalty when Mark Stallard was dragged to the ground by Peter Cavanagh but referee Darren Deadman was on the spot and waved play-on, much to Stallard's annoyance.

At the other end Ian Craney dragged a shot wide as Stanley looked to get themselves back into the game whilst a crude foul from behind on Martin Gritton by Michael Welch in the 49th minute earned the former Macclesfield Town man a caution.

Two minutes later Gritton saw yellow himself for a mistimed slide on Leam Richardson whilt his strike partner Stallard was denied a second when an excellent stop from Dunbavin saw him save low after the Imps' man had cut inside from the right.

At the other end Accrington won their third corner of the game in the 57th minute but the Imps managed to scramble the ball clear - they then passed their way forward to force a corner of their own on the right. Frecklington's delivery almost fell to Mayo but an awkward bouce ensured the Stanley back line were able to hammer to safety.

It became four corners apiece in the 63rd minute when Lee Beevers nicked the ball off the foot of Gary Roberts - Ian Craney's delivery from the quadrant was headed well over by Andrew Proctor though and City retained their two-goal advantage.

A great piece of play from the Imps, which saw a number of one-touch passes open up the Stanley defence, ended up with Frecklington inches away from connecting but the move, which involved four or five City men, earned a warm round of applause from the majority of the 4,999 crowd.

The crowd were on their feet again midway through the half but this time it was in celebration as Mark Stallard slotted home his second of the game to edge the Imps further in front.

Again, an incisive break forward from City, this time involving Frecklington and Forrester ended up with the latter threading the ball through to Stallard and the experienced front man did the rest, beating his marker to the ball before sliding the ball past the onrushing Dunbavin. Five for the season for the former Notts County man.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors four minutes after Stallard's 68th minute effort when a blatant block by Michael Welch on Lee Frecklington earned him a deserved second yellow, resulting in the dreaded red. Referee Deadman having no option but to dismiss the ex-Macclesfield stopper, who was heading towards the tunnel before the cards were out of the Cambridgeshire official's pocket.

A late challenge on Mayo by substitute Mangan then saw him add his name to Mr Deadman's book and shortly afterwards had it not been for a fine save from Marriott, Mangan would have got his name on the scoresheet; the City man saving well from eight yards.

After keeping out two Accrington corners, City won one of their own as the clock ticked into the 78th minute and three minutes later Julien N'Da replaced Ian Craney for the visitors.

Less than 60 seconds later, Stanley gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Gary Roberts flashed a low drive through a crowd of players, with the ball hitting the back of the net before Marriott had chance to dive for the ball.

It caused a few nervous whispers to go round the crowd, and a few hearts skipped a beat shortly afterwards when a misplaced pass from Scott Kerr ended up with Mangan finding space for himself on the left. Marriott was quickly off his line though and pulled off a fine block.

At the other end, the sponsors' Man of the Match Jamie Forrester tested Dunbavin with a 25-yard drive - a feat repeated by Stallard as he went in search of his hat-trick.

Stallard was then lucky to escape serious injury when a horrible lunge from Peter Cavanagh took him out as he broke forward. The challenge could easily have resulted in a straight red but, having already been cautioned, referee Deadman decided to give him a second yellow. Cavanagh joining Welch in the dressing room.

Two-goal Stallard then received a standing ovation as he got back to his feet before being replaced by Ollie Ryan. The clock was in the final minute at the time of the substitution.

Four minutes were then added but these passed without incident and when Mr Deadman took a final blow on his whistle, the Imps' first home win since the 5-0 demolition of Grimsby Town last season saw them move up to second in the table.

FT: IMPS 3 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1

TEAM SHEET

LINCOLN CITY
1 Alan MARRIOTT
2 Lee BEEVERS
4 Adie MOSES
5 Paul MORGAN
3 Paul MAYO
12 Nicky EADEN
7 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
9 Mark STALLARD
15 Martin GRITTON
22 Jamie FORRESTER

subs
18 Ollie RYAN (for STALLARD 90)
16 Ryan SEMPLE
17 Colin CRYAN
28 Jamie SHERLOCK
13 Simon RAYNER

GOALS: GRITTON (6), STALLARD (40, 68)

BOOKING: GRITTON (51)

ACCRINGTON STANLEY
25 Ian DUNBAVIN
2 Peter CAVANAGH
4 Robbie WILLIAMS
5 Michael WELCH
3 Leam RICHARDSON
17 Andy TODD
8 Ian CRANEY
20 Jay HARRIS
11 Gary ROBERTS
10 Paul MULLIN
6 Andrew PROCTOR

subs
9 Andrew MANGAN (for HARRIS h/t)
16 Julien N'DA (for CRANEY 81)
7 Sean DOHERTY
12 Philip EDWARDS
23 Francois DUBOURDEAU

GOAL: ROBERTS (82)

BOOKINGS: CAVANAGH (18), WELCH (49), MANGAN (75)

SENDING OFFS: WELCH (72), CAVANAGH (88)

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)
ASSISTANTS: Russell Fletcher & Brian Parry
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Gary Sutton

ATTENDANCE: 4,999 (154 visiting supporters)

50/50 HALF-TIME DRAW

£200 - # 09628 - claimed
£101 - # 10232 - claimed